Upcoming Webinars

Speakers

Rita F. D’AOust, PhD
Associate Professor; Director, DNP/PhD Program
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing 

Dr. Rita F. D'Aoust is an Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and Director of the dual DNP/PhD program, with a joint appointment in the School of Medicine's Department of General Internal Medicine. As a military spouse and family member, Dr. D'Aoust has experienced military life from the sidelines. As a nurse practitioner, she has cared for veterans in community settings. These experiences have informed her significant contributions to educating nurses in veteran care. Dr. D'Aoust co-authored "Caring for Veterans and Thei r Families: A Guide for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals." She co-directed the Veterans Affairs Nursing Academy (VANA) and subsequent Veterans Affairs Nursing Academic Partnerships (VANAP) at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital and University of South Florida. She is a member of the American Association of Nursing, Military/Veteran Expert Panel. Her innovative work includes developing the Veteran to Bachelor of Science Program, which recognizes prior learning through American Council of Education (ACE) transcript evaluation for military medics and corpsmen. She also created an online course, "Introduction to Military and Veteran Healthcare." Dr. D'Aoust's research focuses on the impact of military service on veteran health. She has studied novel therapies like Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) for treating PTSD in homeless veterans and those with Military Sexual Trauma. She has also researched fibromyalgia symptomology in community-dwelling women veterans. As a mentor, Dr. D'Aou st has guided numerous doctoral students on veteran policy issues, nurse practitioner roles in veteran care, and quality improvement initiatives in VA settings. Her contributions have been recognized with the Jonas Faculty Mentor Award and the Jonas Nursing and Veterans Healthcare Distinguished Faculty Award in 2021. 

Catherine G. Ling, PhD
Associate Professor
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing 

Dr. Catherine Ling is a nurse scientist, practicing Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and certified nurse educator focusing on improving access to quality, primary care.  She works to improve culturally competent care for military families and is actively involved in community focused interventions to improve wellnes s at a local and global level. She is also creating innovative, engaging strategies to prepare DNP students for advanced practice. She received her BSN from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, her MN from Emory University and her PhD from the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Ling is a Fellow in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Nursing. She is currently an Associate Professor and inaugural CNO of Service within the COMPASS Center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. 

Alicia Gill Rossiter, DNP
Associate Professor
University of South Florida

Dr. Alicia Gill Rossiter is an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida College of Nursing and serves as Chief Officer of Military and Veteran Affairs and Director of the V-CARE Veteran to BSN Pathway. She is a Family Nurse Practitioner board certified in Pediatric Primary Care. Dr. Rossiter served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps on active duty for four years which included two deployments - a combat deployment to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and a humanitarian mission to Honduras, Central America. She transferred into the U.S. Air Force Reserve in 1995 and served as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee until retiring in 2015. Her military experience is the impetus behind her research which includes women veterans and military sexual trauma, effects of parental military service on military-connected children, and transitioning needs of medics and corpsmen into the professional role of nursing. During her doctoral program, she was selected as a Bob Woodruff Jonas Veteran Healthcare Scholar. She was a member of the inaugural cohort of AAN Jonas Policy Scholars with the Military/Veteran Health Expert Panel. She was inducted as a Fellow in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners in 2014 and in the American Academy of Nursing in 2018 where she served as the Co-Chair and Chair of the Military/Veteran Health Expert Panel from 2018-2022. She recently co-authored her first book,?Caring for Veterans and their Families: A Guide for Nurses and other Healthcare Professionals. 

Speakers

Gabrielle Flynt, BSN
AGACNP-DNP Student
Winona State University 

Gabrielle Flynt (she/her/hers) is a registered nurse in a rural northeast Iowa critical access emergency department and current Doctor of Nursing Practice Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner student at Winona State University, graduating in May 2025. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Washington State University in 2015. Originally from the inland northwest, employment opportunities for her spouse brought them to the rural Midwest, where they have resided for the last seven years. Passionate about improving healthcare for LGBTQ+ folks, she and her co-presenter Mara Bennett-Deiss co-crea ted a workshop entitled Code Rainbow, designed to enhance allyship among healthcare providers. Initially a school assignment, Code Rainbow has blossomed into a passion project beyond their wildest dreams. It has taken them to several national nursing conferences to present their data and outcomes, including as a poster at the 2024 Midwest Nursing Research Society conference and as a podium presentation at the 2024 University of Iowa National Evidence-Based Practice conference. In February 2024, Code Rainbow: Addressing LGBTQ+ Allyship Among Rural Healthcare Providers won the best poster award at the AACN Diversity Symposium. Her interests outside of school and work include travel, gardening, playing fetch with her corgi, yoga, and spending time with her family. 

Mara Bennett-D eiss, DNP
Nurse Practitioner Resident
Penobscot Community Health Center 

Mara Bennett-Deiss was recruited to play soccer outside of her Michigan high school and received her BSN as a student athlete in 2016 from Lewis University in the suburbs of Chicago. After 8 years at the bedside in medical surgical, oncology, primary care, and rural settings, Mara attended Winona State University in Minnesota to complete her DNP and is an AANP board certified family nurse practitioner. Mara characterizes her practice as a heartfelt blend of humor, transparency, and gentleness. With a fierce passion for serving marginalized communities, she prioritizes equity for all patients. Her philosophy centers on acceptance, ensuring that every individual feels acknowledged and respected. Passionate about improving LGBTQ+ healthcare, Mara co-created a workshop: Code Rainbow, with her co-presenter Gabrielle Flynt, to enhance allyship among healthcare providers. As a f oster parent and avid volunteer, she strives to make a positive impact on her community. To unwind, Mara finds comfort in spending time with her dogs, game nights with friends, and is an avid sports enthusiast. With her kind nature, humorous disposition, and unwavering curiosity, Mara brings a unique and compassionate approach to her work and personal life.